The Government needs to understand the full range of tactics the industry is deploying to protect public health, say academics

Dr Rosemary Hiscock, of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath, said: “Through sophisticated pricing strategies and clever tactics, such as price-marked packs and small pack sizes, the industry is thwarting a public health measure in order to keep smokers hooked on tobacco and their profits rolling in.

“The introduction of standardised packaging and the minimum excise tax in the UK goes some way to address this, but the Government needs to grasp the full range of tactics the industry is deploying if it’s to deliver successful policy responses that truly protect public health.”